EVO MMA, short for “The Evolution of Mixed Martial Arts,” debuted in October 2008 and featured a main event between BodogFIGHT/IFL veteran Ray Steinbeiss and former UFC/Strikeforce fighter Steve Berger. Steinbess earned a decision win at the event, which drew approximately 1,000 attendees at Arizona’s first event held under unified rules.

Arizona passed legislation to regulate MMA in late 2008.

The Jan. 24 card is already taking shape and currently features:

Joe Pearson vs. Din Thomas

Drew Fickett vs. Nik Lentz

Junior Assuncao vs. Ben Henderson

Ryan Healy vs. James Warefield

Thomas (22-8), a former UFC lightweight contender and cast member from “The Ultimate Fighter 4,” left the UFC following back-to-back losses to Kenny Florian and Josh Neer in 2008. Now dropping from 155 to 145 pounds, he meets Pearson (30-13-1), who’s fought nearly every six weeks during his six-year career. The Miletich fighter has claimed 26 of his 30 victories via submission and has never gone to a decision.

Fickett (36-8), who’s lost three of his past five fights, meets Lentz (14-3-1), a rising prospect who’s undefeated in his past six fights.

Assuncao (6-4), who went 1-2 in the UFC from 2006-2007, fights for the first time since a unanimous-decision upset loss to Torrance Taylor at the American Fight League’s May show. He’ll meet Henderson (7-1), who recently defeated UFC vet Diego Saraiva for his sixth consecutive win.
(Pictured: Drew Fickett)

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is probably the greatest female fighter on the planet, which is a tremendous feat. So why are we seemingly so obsessed with arguing about whether she could beat up men?